When they were gone, Sharen’s team stood and filed down the stairs. They waited in front of their teacher, in a quiet line.
I’m going to miss these kids. And she would. Even though she had to keep a secure line between herself and them, they were the closest things she had to friends. And they were amazing at what they did. Amazing people too.
“Let’s head down and get this over with.” Sharen headed for the door. “Lily and Blake, with me.”
The team captains flanked her as they made their way down the hall. The other eight students walked a short distance behind, except for Rorde who was so close Sharen could feel his breath on her neck.
Sharen rolled her neck, trying to shake the feeling of his breath on her skin. “What do you think of them?”
Blake cast a glance at Lily. “They’re slow learners, but maybe they’ll pick it up after they cross over for the first time.”
Sharen looked at the boy. He’d come into The Program knowing the basics of creating a Protective Circle. He’d toned his body and practiced with a trainer, entering her classroom with the grace and skill of a warrior twice his age. Those kids had no chance of ever being as good as he was.
“Perhaps,” Sharen said with a shrug.
Lily gave her a small smile. “Also, I wanted to tell you something. The Director approached me about taking on a role as a Leader after I graduate.”
“Really?” Sharen couldn’t say she was surprised, if anyone could do it, Lily could.
“I told him I wasn’t interested.”
Sharen froze, shaking her head. “Why? You’d be excellent at it.”
“Because as much as I admire you, I could never do your job.”
Sharen frowned.
“The thing is, and I mean this respectfully, I’ve watched you give up everything for this job. Your friends. Your family. All for a bunch of students you have to scare into learning enough so they don’t die. And, to risk your eternal life in a way none of us have to... I just couldn’t do it.”
Sharen felt flustered as she started to walk again. Lily fell silent, but kept pace beside her.
Would I have become a Leader if I had the love of a good man? If I knew how to steal a little happiness from this world? Maybe not. Maybe I would’ve done my time and had a normal life. Lily deserves that after all she’s done for this world.
“I think... perhaps you made a good choice.”
Sharen glanced at the young woman out of the corner of her eye and was glad to see she looked relieved. She didn’t want Lily to feel like she had disappointed her by not following in her footsteps, but she also didn’t want her to realize that sometimes Sharen regretted her choice too.
They’d almost reached the steel elevator when her cell phone buzzed. Turning it away from her team, she read the expected message.
And my alimony check better be in the mail tonight.
An ache grew in her chest. She couldn’t believe she actually had to pay her ex every month. It seemed like a bad joke. If anyone knew what her personal life was like, they’d probably lose a lot of respect for her. Because as much as she should feel nothing but hate for her ex and her sister, she missed both of them.
I’m pathetic.
She realized, too late, that she’d stopped walking. Her students stood silently, waiting for her next move. Tucking her phone in her pocket, she walked to the stairs and typed the code into the panel. A few second later, the doors slid open and they filed inside. She hit “Z” on the elevator, then they all held still as the green lights scanned each individual, ensuring they had the proper badge. The elevator jerked into movement a second later, traveling down at a fast speed.
“Don’t worry.” Lily gave a shy smile, unaware of what really troubled her teacher. “At least we don’t turn twenty-one until after graduation, so you have a little more time with us.”
Sharen tried to push away thoughts of her failed marriage. Lily was right, she could thank God for their ages. Once these kids turned twenty-one, crossing over became too dangerous. Twenty-one was somehow a “magic” age, where demons could possess their bodies. Or find ways to use them to enter their realm.
Each university around the world had one team, and only one adult, the teacher, was allowed to enter the other realms. The rules stated that he, or she, needed to stand next to the exit from the realm. They weren’t allowed to directly engage a demon, and their students knew if things got dicey, their teacher would be the first to leave. It wasn’t the best system, sending the kids in to do the dirty work, but it was better than sitting back until the demons got strong enough to enter their realm, and then fighting them here.
The elevator doors opened to another white hallway hidden beneath a soundproof layer below the surface of the more “normal” classrooms. They came to the familiar door, where Rorde, without being told, typed in the code. The doors slid open, and he cast her that familiar superior smile. One that said, only you should know the code, but I do too.
“I have a photographic memory,” he said, staring directly at Lily.
“So you’ve told us. A lot,” Sharen responded curtly.
Rorde had a thing for Lily. It seemed like everyone knew it except her. And Sharen had done everything humanly possible to keep him far from Lily. The sorcerer wasn’t good for her. Even ignoring the fact that she was already engaged to one of the smartest, nicest men most people would likely meet in their lives.
The sorcerer glared at his teacher, and opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, her phone rang. Pulling it back out of the pocket, she stiffened at the unfamiliar number. “Everyone, file in. I’ll join you in a minute.”
Staying in the hall, she clicked the button to accept the call.
“Sharen?”
Her breath left in a rush. “You called.”
The woman on the other line went silent, her breathing heavy. “Is this a secure line?”
“Yes.”
“Checked recently?”
Sharen clenched the phone harder. What could she have to say that’s this important? “Yes.”
Another long pause. “I looked into Elaina’s death.”
Her heart raced, filling her ears. “And.”
“It seems she went into a demon realm without her team.”
Sharen felt a cold numbness wash over her. “That’s impossible.”
“That’s what her official report says.”
Sharen spun in the empty hall, clenching her free hand and pressing it against her forehead. “You can’t possibly believe that! We all trained together! You know how good she was! Not even a complete moron would go into a demon realm alone, and sure as hell not a Leader.”
“Sharen, listen to me. I know her death was hard for you. It was hard for me too. But if that’s what her official file says, you have to let this go. Pursuing it could only mean trouble. And you don’t need any more trouble in your life.”
She took several deep breaths. There was no way she was going to let this go, but she also wasn’t going to drag her friend into it. “That’s... good advice. Sorry. And thank you for looking into it for me.”
“You’ll let it go?”
“Of course,” she lied.
“Good, now I got to go. Be safe.”
“Be safe,” Sharen repeated back, then ended the call.
Rubbing her face with hands that trembled, she ordered herself to get a grip. She had a room full of people depending on her. She didn’t have time for a meltdown.
Later, she promised herself. But for now, let’s go kill some demons.
Chapter Three
Sharen strode into the room. About a dozen chairs faced a large screen. To the side of the screen, a large black chair faced a simple looking computer.
“Take your seats,” she ordered.
Everyone hurried in.
As she made her way to the front of the room, Rorde spoke up. “We going to try P-90-5478 tonight?”
The suspicious demon realm we came across last t
ime.
Her eyes narrowed as she sank into her chair. “Did you Search it?”
Sharen hated relying on him for information, but he was the only one on her team who could use magic in their realm. It was a powerful tool. A tool she’d be a fool not to use.
But it didn’t make her like it.
“Yes,” he answered her slowly, avoiding her gaze. “I believe the reason we detected a demon, then not, is because it may be a demon so weak it can’t keep itself in that realm. I think now would be the time to strike.”
His answer didn’t sit well with her. “You sure it isn’t a powerful demon trying to lure us to it?”
To her complete annoyance, he smirked. “Powerful demons completely hide their presence. It wouldn’t allow its shield to keep slipping.”
That was how it usually went, but most weak demons simply kept a constant, feeble presence.
“I don’t like it,” she said, after a time. “I think we should try—”
“But this is our chance to stop it before it gets too powerful, not going would be a mistake,” Rorde argued, then looked to Lily.
Her skin tinged pink. “I agree with Rorde, but it’s your call.”
Rorde beamed at the younger woman.
Blake turned Lily’s face towards him. “I don’t usually agree with The Bug, but who could argue with this pretty lady.” He brushed a kiss against her lips.
Sharen glanced away in time to catch the look of pure torture on Rorde’s lips. Good, the sooner you accept that she isn’t for you, the better for everyone.
Now, visit the realm we’ve already found something suspicious in? Or a different one?
Sharen fiddled with her wedding ring, then shrugged. “Okay, we go to P-90-5478.” Then, she turned to the screen. “Computer, show me P-90-5478.”
The screen flicked on. For a moment, everything was dark, then the tiny floating green shapes that represented different realms on the odd map popped up. In a nauseating motion, it slowly zeroed in on the realm in question, passing red squares that they, or other teams, had entered and found too dangerous, and yellow squares the teams had simply found empty.
At last, they came to the square in question. They couldn’t see anything of the actual realm, but the system gave a universal way for all the teams to communicate what they found as they crossed over.
“Computer, record the following: Team Scorpion will enter P-90-5478 at approximately,” she glanced at the clock in the corner of her screen, “10:30 pm. A Level One demon is suspected, although it has not been confirmed.”
The computer beeped, and the information appeared on the green square.
“Alright team,” she turned back to them. “Let’s suit up.”
Her team left the room in an orderly fashion, standing next to their partners. There was one fighter and one symbolist in each team. Each duo consisted of a boy and a girl, because the girls typically did better with creating fast, powerful symbols, and the boys were better with brute force. Rorde’s team was the exception. He was both a sorcerer and a symbolist, so he was partnered with Valentine, a boy with the build of a linebacker.
Again, Rorde typed in the code and let the group into the Portal Room.
Sharen gritted her teeth.
The students walked to the back wall where there were at least ten uniforms in each size. Rule Number One, never bring anything personal into another realm. Sharen picked up a random uniform in her size and went behind a screen to change. She dressed quickly, then stepped out to find her students dressed and ready to go. Their white uniforms, with silver scorpions sewn onto the backs, looked brand new, as always. They’d all donned white sneakers, again from a huge collection lined under the uniforms.
Next, Sharen walked to the cubbies. Twisting her ring off, she went to drop it in her usual compartment, but found a gold band already there. She almost moved it, no doubt Lily or Blake had dropped it in by mistake, but instead she just put it in the cubby next to it, along with tucking her phone and wallet in the back corner. Turning, she almost slammed into Rorde.
“Careful, we wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
Creepy. “Thanks.”
She went to stand in front of the students. “Everyone, check yourselves for personal items.”
A second later, Rorde’s partner, Valentine, stood up. Pieces of his long blonde hair fell over his face as he pulled the silver cord off from around his neck. The boy, who no doubt had Viking in his blood, slunk past her, as she glared, to drop his necklace off.
Someone mumbled. “Rookie mistake.”
And it was. If a demon had got his necklace... well, he’d be the bitch of a demon for the rest of his lifetime. Idiot.
Sharen waited until everyone took their seats before speaking. “Alright, we all know how this goes. Get in and get in position, without being seen. Put up your protective circles, and then Rorde will draw the demon out. Symbolists strike first, warrior only if it gets close. And as always, never follow a demon into its den. We all understand?”
“Yes, Captain!” they all shouted at once.
“If things start to go south, look to me or your captains for guidance. Questions?”
The room was silent.
“File up!”
They all went to the opposite wall from the wardrobes and pulled their weapons off the racks on the walls. The Splicers shone beneath the fluorescent light, the combination of smooth steel and sharp edges creating a weapon that was both beautiful and dangerous. Sharen picked up a weapon at random, automatically sliding her hand into place. The weapon was the size of her forearm and fit like a glove. A creation of pure brilliance, it was a sword and a magic discharger, all rolled into one.
Sharen stopped ogling her weapon, the one she rarely got to use, and passed her students, who waited in two rows. She went to the wall at the back of the room, with its massive block of black stone. Demon Stone. With a practiced hand, she curled her fingers around the thick, white chalk and drew a large door onto the black stone. Above the stone, she drew the sweeping symbols, and at last the name of the realm.
The door began to glow, slowly transforming from black, to white, and then to red. A soft gurgling sound was followed by a slowly swirling circle of red and white, like the caps on ocean waves in the shape of a doorway.
She dropped the chalk in its bin and stood back. “Let’s go.”
Blake and Lily led, matching expressions of fierceness on their faces.
The other students followed in quick pairs behind them. And at last, she herself stepped through.
No one ever got used to the sensation. Of being too hot and too cold. Of being stretched and squeezed. Of being weightless and so heavy the weight of your own body might crush you. But the uncomfortable sensation only lasted a moment before she stumbled out into the demon realm.
It was like every other. Hot as hell, even though it probably wasn’t. White sand and rocks covered the landscape, where white plants like long, twisted mushrooms grew between boulder-like rocks. The sky, as always, burned brightly, with three suns so large they appeared close enough to touch.
Next to her, Rorde’s Splicer glowed, and deep red symbols appeared on the side of the blade. Valentine’s weapon glowed as well, less elegant blue symbols appearing. All the students stood still, equipping their own weapons with whatever shot they preferred the most.
Closing her eyes, she created symbols in green. Her weapon would fire simple strikes that would explode ever-so-slightly on impact. She could create something even more powerful, but it’d be like killing a fly with a grenade, pointless.
Lily and Blake broke off from the group, and each pair followed the next after a minute, spreading themselves out evenly. Rorde and Valentine were the last to go, since it was their job to keep an eye on their teacher. Everyone worked like one organism, creeping up the closest stack of boulders on their right.
Her captains reached the top of the boulders first, sinking low onto their bellies, then glancing back to signal they’d sp
otted the demon.
Sharen released some of the anxiety building in her chest. She hadn’t liked this mission. But if the demon had already been spotted, it was likely she’d be home in time to get a decent night’s sleep.
She, flanked by Rorde and Valentine, moved further from the exit, mostly to get a good view of the battle, but still staying close enough to escape in case of trouble. They scaled the boulders closest to them and lay on their bellies. A demon, definitely a Level One, sat in the center of a clearing in the middle of the boulders. Near it, the large hole signifying its den had been dug out of some of the rocks surrounding it.
The demon itself was young, judging by its small horns, and probably no more than Rorde’s size. It used its sharp teeth and nails to dig between its toes, eating whatever it found of interest.
Sharen sensed the others creating their Protective Circles, just as Rorde created one around them. In this realm, it wasn’t necessary to draw them, only to imagine them just as they should be. It was a difficult skill to master, but her symbolists were the best.
A tingle spread through them. Lily’s signal, and suddenly, the symbolists opened fire.
The demon barely had time to look up, before the multi-colored lights slammed into its flesh, slicing it into bits.
Silence held after the attack.
Rorde closed his eyes. His slimy magic tugging at her flesh, and then, he opened his eyes. “All clear.”
Her team stood up and cheered.
Not the most exciting battle, but exciting battles were rarely a good thing.
They made their way slowly back down the rocks when a terrible stench struck them. One of rotting bodies and death.
“Back, back!” Sharen screamed, shoving Rorde and Valentine backwards.
The students scrambled onto their rocks and threw up their Protective Circles in a terrified rush.
Sharen flattened herself back onto the rock, safely in Rorde’s shield and watched, her stomach twisting.
The air shimmered, and suddenly the clearing near their portal was no longer a clearing. What seemed like one hundred demons, or more, of every size, shape, color, and level crowded the space. Directly across from their portal, on the other side of the area filled with demons, a huge mountain rose, blocking out all three suns. The clearing disappeared into shadows.
Mates of the Realms: The Complete Collection: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Box Set Page 2
